PSI patent allowed for medical device sterilisation
Uses free radicals for sterilisation process
Particle Sciences Inc (PSI), a US contract research organisation, has received Notice of Allowance for a method of sterilising medical devices.
The patent covers the use of free radical generating moieties in or on the medical device.
The firm says free radicals are an effective mode of sterilisation, which means, for example, that a catheter coated with a free radical generating particle would, upon proper stimulation, generate surface free radicals to eliminate any early biofilm that might be forming. Ultraviolet light delivered to the catheter would be an example of a viable energy source to stimulate free radical production.
According to Mark Mitchnick, chief executive of Particle Sciences, headquartered in Bethlehem, PA, US, the firm has applied for more than 10 patents in the past few years either on its own or as a co-inventor on behalf of its clients.
“This specific idea flowed from our drug-eluting medical device work and our background in photochemistry. As a drug delivery CRO, however, this technology is a bit out of our area of focus and because of that, we will look for an opportunity to out-license the patents which have both US and EU approval.”